WCAG 2.2 success criterion 2.4.2, Page Titled, is a Level A requirement: the page has a descriptive title.
Read the criterion in the W3C Recommendation, WCAG 2.2 (opens in a new tab).
How BearScan checks it
The page has a descriptive title
Checked automatically: reads the HTML. Severity: medium. The title is the first thing a screen reader announces and the only label on a browser tab. Without it, a user with several tabs open cannot tell which page is which.
An approximation: Fails a missing or empty <title>. A present title is read by a decisions model (TypeSafe's Jev) with the page's heading and opening, in any language: one it is sure says nothing about the page (a template default, a bare site name on a content page) fails, one it is sure describes the page passes, and anything in between asks for review.
How to fix it. Give every page a unique <title> that names its topic first and the site second, for example "Returns policy - Acme".
All WCAG 2.2 criteria · Next: 2.4.3 Focus Order
Questions
Is WCAG 2.4.2 required by the ADA?
The ADA doesn't name a technical standard for businesses, but the Justice Department's 2022 guidance points businesses to WCAG, and its 2024 rule for state and local governments adopted WCAG 2.1 Level AA, which includes 2.4.2.
Can an automated tool check WCAG 2.4.2?
Mostly. BearScan checks it automatically (reads the HTML). A clean result still isn't proof every page passes, only the pages scanned.
How do I fix a WCAG 2.4.2 failure?
Give every page a unique <title> that names its topic first and the site second, for example "Returns policy - Acme".